St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-13
IN THE COMMONS.
How the Situation is Viewed b.
the Government.


How the Situation is Viewed by
the Government.
BY Cable to the Globe
LONDON, Sept. 12.-In the house of
commons tonight Chief Secretary for
Ireland Balfour announced that he was
In receipt of dispatch from Lisdoon,
station that five moonlighters had been
captured, Constable Wheelan killed and
three of the police seriously injured.
The dispatch stated that the rifles, re-
volvers and ammunition of the moon
lighters had been captured. Itappears,
as MIR. Balfour claimed, that the gang
had gone to this house, which was Oc-
cupled by farmer named Sexton, in
tending to kill him. Sexton had been
summoned by the league and censured
for holding his farm in opposition to
their commands. He then agreed to
surrender the farm, but failed to do so.
Therefore the mO0nlighters went to the
house and entered it, and were about to
shoot Sexton, when the police, who had
Deen III ambush outside, surprised them
and
THE FIGHT OCCURRED
which resulted fatally for Head Con-
stable Wheelan. Mr.. Balfour in reply
ing to Sir William HarcOurt said that
the instructions given to the police were
precisely the same as those given when
Sir William Harcourt himself was amin
lSter. Regarding the resignation of Sir
RedverS Butler, Mr.. Balfour declared
that his appointment to the Irish Secre-
taryship was only a temporary one and
that he had resigned because he desired
to return to the war office. Any sur
mise that there was difference between
Sir Redvers Butler and the ministry
was absolutely false. Referring to the
contention that the suppression of meet
lngS in ireland was illegal, Mr. Balfour
said that it was matter of history
that under the common law in Ireland,
Slr William HarcOurt had joined Mr..
Gladstone, who was then premier, and
Mr.: Foster, then Irish secretary, in pro-
claiming 130 meetings. ''The question:"
continued Mr.. Balfour, ''is not whether
the action of the government is legal.
but whether it is polite. 1t is important
to consider the condition of EnneS, which
is notorious center of agrarian crime.
1t is absurd to describe such meetings as
are held there as opportunities for free
discussion only. They are heralded by
lnf1ammatOry placards and the obvious
object of the meeting was to defeat law
III.
AS for MitchelltOwn," said the Secre-
tary, sit is aScertained that the police
had immense prOvOcatiOn. They were
ASSAULTED AND STONED
and struck with black thOrns before
they drew their batonS. 1t was not
until they were disordered by charge
of hofSemen and knocked down,
wounded and forced to fly for their
lives that the police fired. The firing
was absolutely necessary to protect the
barricks and the unfortunate police
StragglerS outside 1t was not random
firing by men in panic, but a deliber-
ate act ordered by the commander. The
police are amply justified for their
actions. The sole responsibility rests
with those who contemplated the meet
ing" Mr.. Balfour concluded by de-
claring that the government would not
waver from the line which they had
marked out; that they expected little
assistance from. the opposition. but
with their courage unshaken they would
perSevere III a cause which could only
end In cOnclllatiOn of Ireland.
HENRY LABoUCHERE.
who was present at Mitchelltown on
the day of the affray, and saw all that
occurred there, stated in the house to-
night the whole blame rested upon the
police. He held the chief consta-
bic and the resident magistrate re-
sponsible, and accused them both of
deliberate murder.
~ MIR. GLADSTONE,
in speech of considerable length. pro-
tested against Mr.. Balfour's statement
that he expected only hostility and no
assistance from the opposition. When
ever anything beneficial for Ireland was
proposed the opposition hailed it with
delight and did everything possible to
further it, despite the unWise coercion
went on to say that the government
had made no attempt to show that
they had acted in conformity to legal
authority in the narrowing MitchelltoWn
affair, but openly said that it was not
a question of legality. Mr.. Gladstone's
speech in the main was a denunciation
of the blood shedding at MitcheltOwn.
He blamed the government for the en-
tire occurrence. Mr.. Parnell made
motion to adjourn the debate, but this
was defeated by vote of 22S to 81. The
debate was continued until late hour.
+ Mr.. Parnell moved an adjournment to
the debate and desired to add an amend
ment demanding sworn inquiry into
the facts of the Mitchelltown tragedy.
Mr.. Smith, conservative leader, re-
minded him that this could be done at
the third reading. After some further
debate the speaker left the chair and
the house went into a committee of the
whole. Adjourned at 5:15 Tuesday
morning.